By Muhammad Amaan
The National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) said no fewer than 15,000 AIDS-related deaths occur each year in Nigeria.
The Director-General, NACA, Mrs Temitope Ilori stated this in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during an advocacy visit focused on achieving an AIDS-Free Generation and building a sustainable HIV response in Ogun.
Mrs Ilori, represented by Dr James Anenih, the Director of Community Prevention and Care Service, noted that approximately 140,000 children between the ages of 0 to 14 were living with HIV.
She added that 22,000 new HIV infections were recorded so far this year.
She expressed concern over the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT), paediatric HIV coverage remains below 33 per cent of the 95 per cent target.
She said hat Nigeria continues to face a significant challenge in preventing mother-to-child transmission of disease.
Mrs Ilori appreciated the Ogun government for equipping selected health facilities to provide anti-retroviral therapy.
She however expressed concerns that the state has a higher prevalence of 1.6 per cent than the national average of 1.4 per cent and the South West average of 1.2 per cent.
“We acknowledge the great work your excellency has done in upgrading and equipping selected health facilities to provide anti-retroviral therapy (ART) from 22 sites in 2019 to 28 sites in 2023.
“Also, the commissioning of the One-Stop-Shop and Community ART (CART) in Ogun East and Ogun West.
“It is imperative to note that Ogun state has an HIV prevalence greater than the national average of 1.4 per cent and the South West average of 1.2 per cent.
“There is an urgent need to halt and reverse the prevalence of the state from its current level of 1.6 per cent,” she said.
The director general said that no child in Ogun should be born with HIV, just as she tasked all pertinent partners to compile a comprehensive line list of children affected to expedite the country’s pediatric ART program.
“The expectation is to have an AIDS-free generation at this point we are trying to make sure that all hands are on deck.
“We’re looking at all of the various resources available to us and holding ourselves accountable so we can do more with reducing mother to child transmission or reducing the number of children born HIV positive,” Ilori added.
In her response, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker stressed that the state’s HIV prevalence rate was critical.
She commended the agency for visiting and inaugurating an 18-man PMTCT and Paediatric ART committee.
She said that the committee would supervise the care of HIV-positive pregnant women to ensure that they do not have sufficient virus to infect their unborn children.
Dr Coker added that the committee would also place children who are positive on treatment to avoid the spread.
